The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 291

“Weighing instruments, Lord Zhou, I’m an old man who’s almost in my grave, why are you still arguing with me?”

At this moment, Yang Yiqing had completely lost his usual dignity as the Grand Secretary and was smiling obsequiously at Zhou Chu.

"Your Excellency makes such a lighthearted statement. If someone stabbed you in the back and then spoke to you with a smile, would you not care at all?"

Zhou Chu glanced at Yang Yiqing, but remained unmoved.

This scene made Xia Yan feel much better. After all, he had lost face by himself, which was not a good look. Now that Yang Yiqing, who was of higher status and older than him, had taken the lead, people would only say that the Grand Secretary had lost face, and no one would mention Xia Yan.

"Then this old man will also punish himself with three cups."

Yang Yiqing, his hands trembling, took out several silver notes from his pocket, placed them in front of Zhou Chu, and downed three cups of Chenwang wine in one go.

Yang Yiqing's hands trembled not because his body was really that old, but entirely because he was worried about the money. Unlike Xia Yan, he had not been involved in smuggling. Although his family was wealthy, people value money more as they get older. To him, everything else was meaningless; only money could guarantee his future.

Throughout history, many famous officials have suffered a miserable old age, sometimes even unable to afford a meal.

Two or three thousand taels of silver was like cutting a piece of flesh off Yang Yiqing; how could he not feel the pain?

After three cups of wine, Yang Yiqing's wrinkled old face relaxed, and his complexion became rosier.

"Chen Wang's brew lives up to its reputation."

Yang Yiqing's words came from the bottom of his heart.

Yang Yiqing is also a wine lover. He has been drinking wine all his life. He can talk about what wines are good and why they are good. Although the mellowness of Chenwang wine is not as good as those famous wines, the difference in age is obvious.

However, Chen Wang's brew is different from those famous wines. Most famous wines are aged in cellars, especially in the Jiangnan region. Chen Wang's brew is a rice wine, which emphasizes drinking it immediately after brewing. It is very particular about the drinking time, as the taste will be greatly affected if it is left for an extra day.

The longer it is stored, the worse it tastes. The timing of taking out the Chenwang Brew from Zhou Chu’s mansion is naturally the most appropriate. It is sweet and fragrant with wine, like a fine wine, leaving people with an unforgettable aftertaste.

"Since the Grand Secretary likes it, I will bring a jar back with me later."

Zhou Chu could tell that Yang Yiqing was a true wine lover, and smiled.

"So good."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yiqing's eyes lit up, feeling that the trip had been worthwhile.

“Lord Zhou, the court needs you. Look at the state of the court that Chen Wanyan has ruined.”

After accepting the punishment, Yang Yiqing stopped beating around the bush and directly stated his purpose.

"Chen Wanyan is nothing but a fool, stupid as a pig. Wouldn't it be a piece of cake for the two of you to deal with him?"

Zhou Chu didn't rush to answer, but teased Yang Yiqing and the other person.

"If it were just Chen Wanyan, it would be easy to deal with, but the problem is that Chen Wanyan is unscrupulous because of His Majesty's favor and has won over many officials."

Xia Yan added.

“The number of people queuing up to deliver money at the Chen residence every day is countless; it has now become a unique sight in the capital.”

Xia Yan said helplessly.

Both he and Yang Yiqing considered themselves smart, yet these two smart men were completely helpless against a fool like Chen Wanyan, and had no idea where to start.

"So what? What does it have to do with me? I can just close the door and watch these young ladies dance. What right does Chen Wanyan have to tell me what to do?"

Zhou Chu smiled.

“Lord Zhou, if His Majesty continues to blindly trust Chen Wanyan, he will likely be branded as a sycophant. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty and His Majesty, Lord Zhou cannot stand idly by.”

Yang Yiqing knew exactly how to give Zhou Chu a chance. Zhou Hengqi, didn't you just want a reason? Wouldn't loyalty to the emperor and patriotism be a good enough reason?

"Moreover, Empress Chen is now pregnant with the emperor's child. If this drags on any longer, and the empress gives birth to the prince, it will be even more difficult for her to deal with the Chen family and Chen Wanyan. Lord Zhou can't just keep resting like this, can he?"

Yang Yiqing added another sentence.

The meaning behind these words is quite clear: Zhou Hengqi will be reinstated sooner or later. Once the Empress gives birth to a prince, even if Zhou Chu wants to deal with the Chen family, he will have to be hesitant, since the prince is involved.

Even if Zhou Chu wins in the end, the existence of the prince will inevitably leave a knot in Jiajing's heart. It would be better to take advantage of the situation now and resolve the issue quickly.

It has to be said that Yang Yiqing's ability to become the Grand Secretary is quite remarkable, and Zhou Chu had to admit that he was persuaded by him.

In reality, Zhou Chu simply needed a way out, a reason, as long as that reason was sufficient.

However, Zhou Chu wouldn't agree to Yang Yiqing and Xia Yan's request so easily. Since ancient times, one has to make the right gesture in such matters. Zhou Chu wouldn't agree unless Yang Yiqing and Xia Yan made three requests and three refusals.

"Let me think about it carefully, after all, beauty can be deceiving."

Zhou Chu grabbed a grape and put it in his mouth.

Yang Yiqing and Xia Yan felt helpless upon hearing this, but they were not surprised. It has always been the case since ancient times. People like Zhou Chu, who have something to rely on, will put on a show. Without three requests and three refusals, this commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard probably will not be reinstated.

"My lords, what do you think of this cheongsam I designed? If you like it, I'll have Yun Gui Fang tailor some for you and send them to your residence. You can close the door in your room and let your concubines wear them. That would be quite possible."

Zhou Chu pointed to the courtesans dancing below and laughed.

Upon hearing this, Yang Yiqing and Xia Yan were indeed somewhat tempted. Yang Yiqing had many concubines, and although he mostly looked at them and did little with them, this cheongsam certainly gave him a good visual treat.

Xia Yan, needless to say, is only in his early forties, but he has much more energy than Yang Yiqing.

"If you two like it, I'll have Yun Gui Fang make more for you later. Do you have any special requests? For example, the slit could be made even higher."

Zhou Chu did this partly to tease the two of them, and partly to expand Yun Gui Fang's business. Although cheongsams are not considered elegant, many people would be happy to have them worn by their concubines behind closed doors.

The qipao was mainly targeted at high-ranking officials and nobles, who had the most concubines and were willing to spend money. Zhou Chu planned to have Yun Gui Fang set aside a separate shop, independent of Yun Gui Fang, to specialize in making qipaos using the finest silk fabrics.

After all, cheongsams are something that's easy to say but hard to say. Yun Gui Fang's main customers are women, and they can't afford to offend these women because of cheongsams.

"So good."

Xia Yan smiled.

The news that Xia Yan and Yang Yiqing had come to the Zhou residence to visit Zhou Chu quickly spread throughout the capital. Those who had been gloating over Zhou Chu's loss of power were now stunned by the news.

They couldn't understand why this was happening. The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard had only recently lost power, yet now the Grand Secretary and the Minister of Rites were so ostentatiously lowering themselves to invite him. The implications of this sent chills down many people's spines.

However, the matter did not end there. In the following days, Yang Yiqing and Xia Yan visited Zhou Chu every day, asking him to be reinstated. Even the emperor came to Zhou's residence to ask him to be reinstated. As a result, Zhou Chu could not refuse no matter what, and had to go to court again.

"Chen Wanyan won't be able to keep this up for long."

Yang Yiqing sneered.